TORONTO – A federal court has ruled that former media mogul Conrad Black won't be heard by an advisory panel that is deciding whether to strip him of Canada's highest civilian honor.

Black, convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice in the United States, had wanted to appear in person before the Order of Canada advisory panel to make his case to keep the honor. The panel refused.

The Federal Court said Thursday it won't interfere, saying Black can make his arguments in writing.

Black's empire once included the Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Telegraph of London, The Jerusalem Post and papers across the U.S. and Canada. He returned to Canada in May after a 42-month U.S. prison sentence. Black remains a member of the British House of Lords.